Acetylene-gas generator.



E. M. RGSENBLUTH.`v

- ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR. APPLICATION FI'LED SEPT. 18. 1913.

Patented Apr. 17, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Iliff/lll# fwlmssa 4 E. M. ROSENBLUTH. ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR. APPLlcATmN man SEPT. la, 1913.

1 ,223,294. Patented Apr. 17,1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR:

EDWIN M. EosENBLUTH, E PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

AoETYLENE-GAS GENERATOR.

To all whom t may concern f Be it known that I, EDWINk M, ROSEN- BLUTH, a citizen of the United States, residing at'Philadelphia, inthe county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Acetylene-Gas Generators, whereof the following 1s a specification, reference being had t0 the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to a` generator of the' type described in Letters Patent of `the United States 1,025,648 granted to Ine May 7, 1912, and provides such a generator with a carbid casing and appurtenances adapted for coperation with carbid cartridges which, as hereinafter described, include 1 a` flexible cover of textile fabric having a` series of compartments independently charged with carbid so that the latteris equally distributed throughout the length of the cartridge when the latter is extended in the plane position in which it is formed, and also when it is bent to the annular position which it occupies in thecarbid casing.

As hereinafter described, said water lre.- ceptacle includes a main compartment adjacent the carbid chamber and an auxiliary compartment above said main compartment; anda water passageway leading from said main water compartment into the carbid casing is controlled by a rotary valve which also controls a gas passageway leading from said carbid casingto the atmosphere, the construction and arrangement beingv such that when the gas passageway is opened the water passageway is closed and vice versa; said valve being rotatable' by a rod extending from the main water compartment through the auxiliary water compartment and having an operating handle exterior to the latter, and said rod carrying a valve controlling communication between said auxiliary compartment andi said main compartment so asto place them in communication only when said waterpassageway leading from'said main'compartment to said carbidv casing is closed. i

However, lsaid specificl construction and arrangement of the'water feeding mechanism is claimed in my copending` application Serial 790,395, filed Sept. 18, 1913.

My invention includes thevarious novel features of construction "and arrangement hereinaftermore definitely specified.

In the'drawings: Figure `I is a vertical Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 17, 1917.

Application led September 18,- 1913. Serial No. 790,396.

sectional view of a generator conveniently embodying my invention. f

Fig. II is a plan view of the carbid casing and base of the generator shown in Eig. I;

Fig. III is an elevation of the cartridge shown in section in Fig I. Fig. IV isa fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on the line IV, IV in Fig. I.' Y

Fig. V is a fragmentary vertical sectional LView 'taken at right angles to the plane of section of Fig. I.

In said drawings; the generator has the base 1l including thek condensate trap 2 cast `in unitary relation with the feetB having the' openings 4 by which it may be permanently connected with an automobile or other vehicle. Said trap has the gas inlet 6 at' the top thereof and the condensate outlet k7 at-the bottom thereof. The duct 10 leads from said trap 2, by way of the branch ducts `11 to respective branch condensing coils 12 and 13 vthrough which the gas fromy the generator is delivered to the lamps or other gas condensing devices which are connected therewith, conveniently lby the flexible tubing 15. Said coils are carried by said base 1 to which they are detachably secured by the bolt 16 and yokes '17 and 18 and havemeans including the nuts 2O detachably connecting said coils in'communication with said ducts 11. It is to be understood that the moisture entrained in the gas passing from'said inlet 6 and through the trap 2 and said coils 12 and 13 is condensed and the condensate'gravitates to thev bottom of said trap as indicated .at 22 in Fig. I.

The carbid casing 24 has the central tubular column`25 with the gas outlet 26 at the bottom thereof, detachably secured therebasel.

- The carbid 34 is supported in said carbid casing 24 in the removable cartridge 35` which is a folded web f of textile fabric, primarily plane as shown in Fig. III and holding said carbid 34 equally distributed throughout its length in the separate com partments conveniently formed by parallel lines of stitches 37. Said cartridge may be closed at the top, conveniently by the line of stitches 38 shown in Fig. III, or it may be left open at the top if it is desired to use the cartridge 35 repeatedly with successive charges of carbid 34. In the latter case, the top of the cartridge being open permits the ejection of the carbid ash. However, the casing of said cartridge 35 being inexpensive textile fabricsuch as cheese cloth, it is preferable to close the cartridges as shown in Fig. III, so as to prevent accidental escape of the carbid during the preliminary handling of the cartridges;

' the latter being thrown away when the carbid charge thereof is depleted.

In order to facilitate the absorption of water by the carbid 34 as the latter decomposes, I find it preferable to compress said cartridge 35 at the bottom of the carbid casing 24. In order to effect such compression, I provide the bowl 40 encircling the central column 25 in said casing 34 but removable therefrom, said bowl being provided with the spiral spring 41 which is permanently attached thereto at its lower end. Such attachment lis conveniently eected by \the brackets 42 which are soldered to said bowl and spring so as to leave a space Abetween them for the passage of water. The upper end of said spring 41 bears upon the foraminous conical floor 43 of the dome 45 which extends into the water receptacle 46 and forms part of the bottom of the latter.

Said water receptacle 46 is arranged to detachably fit upon said carbid casing 24, and has the resilient gasket 47 held between its bottom flange 48 and 49 resting upon the upper edge of said casing 24 so as to seal the joint between said casing and said water receptacle 46.

Said water receptacle 46 has the central tubular column 51 in axial alinement with the column 25 in said carbid casing, and includes tlie main compartment 53, adjacent said casing, and the auxiliary compartment 54 above said main compartment, said compartments being separated by the diaphragm 55.

The valve casing which is permanently set in the bottom of said main compartment 53 of the water receptacle has the water inlet passageway 61 leading to the restricted water outlet 62 in the bottom of said valve casing and to the similar restricted water outlets 63 in fittings 64 which are also perm anently set in the bottom of said receptacle 46 as indicated in Fig. I and connected with said valve casing 60 by the branch tubes 66. Each of said water outlets 62 and 63 is conveniently provided with a reciprocatory plunger 68 such as shown in Fig. I, arranged to restrict the ow of water and to be longitudinally shifted to free any obstruction which may lodge in said outlets. It is to be understood that when said passageway 61 is in communication with said outlets 62 and 63 water is permitted to drip through said outlets into said bowl 40 and thence, through the central opening at the bottom thereof encircling the column 25, and thence to the bottom of the casing 24; the rounded surface thereof serving to distribute the water radially into the textile fabric of the cartridge 35 through which it is absorbed into contact with the carbid 34 in the several compartments thereof.

Said water passageway 61 is controlled by the valve plug 7 5 which is mounted to turn in said valve casing 60 through an arc of 90 degrees, to and from the position shown, such movement being l" iited by a stud on said plug encountering houlders on said casing. Said valve plug 75 has the stem 77 extending through the tube 78, permanently secured in said diaphragm 55 and in the top of the water receptacle 48, and

has the operating handle 79 which is detachably secured thereon by the screw 80. Said handle 79 has the circular Hange 81 overhanging the top of said tube 78 and the joint between them is sealed by the resilient gasket 82.

Said valve stem 77 also carries the valve 84 which has a face of resilient material 85 (for instance leather) bearing upon the inner face of said tube 78 toward which said valve 84 is pressed by the springs 86. Said valve 84 is provided to control the water passageways 89 leading from said auxiliary water compartment 54 to the main water compartment 53, and it may be observed 4that the construction and arrangement is such that when the water passageway 61 from the main compartment to the carbid casing is closed, the water passageway 89 leading from said auxiliary compartment to said main compartment is opened as shown in Fig. I, and vice versa.

Moreover, I provide a gas passageway from said carbid casing 24 to the atmosphere, controlled by the same valve means, so that any gas generated after the water is shut o at said passageway 61 may escape directly to the atmosphereinstead of through said condensing coils 12 and 13 to the lamps. Said passageway is shown at 91 in Fig. I, extending from the gas dome 45 through said valve casing 60 and the port 92 in said valve plug 75 and terminating in the gas vent nozzle 93 exterior to the water receptacle 48, and is closed when said plug is turned to open said passageway 61.

Therefore, it may be observed that the generator above described includes a gas passageway from said carbid casing to the atmosphere; a water passageway leading from said main compartment of the water recepof flow of water into and through said bowl4` 40," and consequently insures the uniform supply of water to the several compartments of said cartridge 35, and the generation of gas therefrom.

`As shown in Fig. I, the water receptacle 46 is provided with the reinforcing cap 95, which isV permanently secured thereon, and

has the inlet or filler tube 96 extending from the eXterorfof said receptacle 46 through the top thereof into the auxiliary water. compartment 54 andkis provided with a closure 98` which is eccentrically pivotally connected with said tube 96 by the pintle 99 which eX- tends through the bearing 100 and carries at its lower end the abutment 101 for the spring 1 02which encircles ysaid pintle and tends to press said closure 98 shut. It is to be wunderstood that `when it is desired to rill said/receptacle 46 .with water, said closure 98 may be raised by its knob 105 and turned aside to uncover said tube 96 to permit water to be poured therein, and when said closure is returned to registry Vwith said tube 96, it

is tightly shut thereon by said spring 102. However, when said closure is opened, as aforesaid, and the valve84 `turned to the position shown in Fig. I, the 1,water passage` way 89 leading from said auxiliary compartment ,54 to said rmain compartment 53 is open so that both compartments of said receptacle may be lled with water 106 through the inlet 96.

Inorder to avoid the creation of a partial, vacuum by subsidence ofthe water 106 in the receptacle 46', which might interfere with the lgravitative feed of the water to the carbid, I provide the top of the receptacle 46 withan aperture 108' in communicationwith the yair vent 109 opening through said capy 95 in communication with the outer atmosphere. 'It'may be observed that said aperture 108 and vent 109 are out of alinement,

so that if any water is forced through the top ofthe receptacle 46 by back pressure of gas in the generator, lit is caught in said cap 95 andsu'bsequently gravitates back into the receptacle 46, instead of being thrown out of the generator as it would be if said aperture 108 communicated directly with kthe atmosphere.

However, the details of construction and arrangement of the water receptacle such as herein shown form the vsubject matter of my copending application Serial No. 784,292, filed August 12, 1913, for Letters Patent of the United States.

Means are provided for detachably rigidly connecting said carbid casing 2 4 and water receptacle 46 with said base 1, including the screw threaded rod 111 ldependmg; in said water receptacle column 51 from the top thereof, having the operating handle 112 provided with the resilient gasket 113 bearing upon the top of said cap 95 and sealing the joint thereat. Said rod 111 may be reciprocated longitudinally to facilitate the engagement of the screw thread 116 at the lower end thereof with the screw thread 117 `at the upper'end of the stem 118 which extends in the carbid casing column 25 from the base 1, and extends through said trap 2 and carries at its lower end the closure 120 for said condensate outlet 7. Said closure 120 carries the resilient gasket 121 to seal said outlet when the connection between said rod 111 and stem 118 is tightened by rotation of said handle 112. In order to prevent rotation of said stem 118 when engaged by said rod 111, said vclosure is provided with eccentric studs 125 extending in sockets 126 in said base 1 which .hold spiral springs 127 pressing upon said closure 120 so as to automatically open the latter when said stem 118 is released by said rod 111.

The generator above described is operated as followsz-The generator being charged with carbid, in the cartridge 35. and the valve handle 79 being turned to the position shown in Fig. I, the generator is in inoperative position because the water passageway 61 leading from the receptacle 46 to the carbid casing 24 is closed and the gas passageway leading from the carbid casing 24 to the atmosphere` through the valve plug 75, is open. In this position, the water passageway 89, leading from the auxiliary water compartment 54.l to the main compartment 53 is open and, ksaid auxiliary compartment being in communication with the atmosphere through the aperture 108 and vent 109, water 106 is free to subside and charge the main compartment 53. In thus charging said compartment 53, the Vinterior of the latter is, of

course, in communication with the compartment 54 through the water passageway 89 comprising the vertically disposed series of openingsinV the tube 7 8' shown in Fig. I; so that the gaseous mixture of atmospheric air and water vaporwhich accumulates in the compartment 53, as the water is discharged from the latter, may escape into said compartment 54 from vsaid compartment 53 ywhen the latter is being charged. It being desired to operate the generator, the valve handle 79 is turned from the position shown in Fig. I, through an arc of 90 degrees. Thereupon, the water passageway 61 leading from the main water compartment 53 to the restricted outlets 62 and 63 being open, the water gravitates through said outlets upon the bowl 40 and thence to the carbid 34, decomposing the latter and generating gas which is forced by its own pressure upwardly through the central aperture in the conical floor 43 surrounding the column 25, thence between said columns and 51 to the top of the column 25, thence downwardly between said column 25 and the rod 111 and through the interstices between the gas inlet tube 6 of the base 1 and the stem 118 of the closure 120 and through the gas outlet 26 into the trap 2 and thence through the ducts 10 and 11 to the condensing coils 12 and 13 and thence to the lamps or other gas consuming devices connected to the upper ends of said coils, conveniently by flexible rubber tubes. e

The ash residue of the decomposition of the carbid 34 is retained by the porous casing of the cartridge 35 so that it may be removed with the latter. The condensate 22 Jfrom the gas gravitates to the bottom of the trap as indicated and is automatically discharged therefrom whenever the closure 120 is opened by release of the stem 118.

If the operation of the generator is continued, without shutting off the water Jfeed, (by returning the valve handle 7 9 to the initial position shown in Fig. 1,) the water may be exhausted from the main compartment 53 to the level of the bottom of the water passageway 61. However, during such operation, the gas pressure gradually diminishes because of the diminishing rate at which the water gravitates through the outlets 62 and 63, consequent upon the lessening height and consequent pressure of the water in the main compartment 53; and such diminution in pressure may be manitested by the lessening brilliance of the flames of the lamps. It may be observed that such diminishment in the gas pressure is characteristic of all generators which have a single supply of water the pressure of which diminishes as the water is consumed in decomposing the carbid. However, with my improved construction above described, the water pressure may be repeatedly restored to its original amount by momentarily returning the valve handle 79 to the Loil position shown in Fig. I, thus permitting the water from the auxiliary compartment 54 to recharge the main compartment 53 to its initial full extent. Moreover, it may be observed that when the valve is in said position the water rises in the tube 78 to the level of the water in the upper auxiliary compartment 54, so that when the valve handle 79 is turned to the other position, which is the gas generating position, the initial pressure of the water is that incident to the height of the water in the main compartment 53 plus the height of the water in said tube 78; but the latter only holds a small quantity of water which quickly subsides to the level of the water in the lower compartment 53 when the valve 84 is thus closed. The effect of such construction and arrangement is that each time the water is turned on to the carbid, it is initially fed to the latter at a rate much higher than the normal rate so as to instantly generate suiicient gas to fill the gas spaces in the apparatus and provide suiiicient gas pressure at the lamps to properly illuminate the latter.

When it is desired to extinguish the lamps, the valve lever 79 is turned to the position shown in Fig. I, so as to shut 0E the supply of water to the carbid casing 24,

but the residue of water in the cartridge 35 continues the generation of gas at a gradually diminishing rate for perhaps several minutes and the lamps would remain lighted if it were not that the gas passageway 91 is then opened to the atmosphere so that the gas escapes therethrough and the lamp then are instantly extinguished. f

It may be observed that whenever it is desired to recharge the generator with carbid 34, it is necessary to disconnect the rod 111 from the stem 118 by rotating said rod by its handle 112 thus releasing said stem 118 and, upon such release, the closure 120 is automatically opened by the springs 127 so as to automatically discharge the condensate 22 from the trap 2. Consequently, 4it is impossible to have the generator obstructed by accumulated condensate which might occur if such discharge were not thus automatically eiiected.

Said rod 111 being disconnected, as above described, the water receptacle 46 may be lifted from the carbid receptacle 24 thus releasing the spring 41 of the bowl 40 so that the latter may be removed to permit removal of the depleted cartridge 35. The ash residue of the decomposed carbid 34 being retained by the cartridge 35, it is unnecessary to clean the carbid casing 24 before recharging it with carbid, and such recharging may therefore, be immediately eilected by disposing another cartridge annularly in the carbid casing as indicated in Fig. II. Said bowl 40 may then be replaced, and the spring 41 compressed by replacing the water receptacle 46, so as to compress the carbid in the cartridge, and the various separable members of the `generator aforesaid be reconnected in rigid relation by rotation of said handle 112 until the closure 120 is returned to its closed position shown in Fig. I. Thereupon, the generator is in condition to generate gas upon movement of the valve central tubular column 25 of thecarbid casn ing 24 extends far above the latter and is imperforate; because such construction compels the gas generated in said'casing 24 to pass in a thin film between the central tubular column 5l ofthe water receptacle and said column 25, to the ytop of the latter, and to pass downward in a film between said column 25 and the rod lll. Said gas is thus subjected to the` low temperature maintained by the water surrounding said column 51so asto precipitate the greater portion of the condensate therefrom infposition to return into operative relation with the carbid 34 by triclrling down the outer' surface of said column 25. Such construction is not onlyy advantageous in that it insures the separation of the entrained moisture from the gas but retains the bulky of such moisture in operative relation with the carbid and thus permits of the generation of a larger volume of gas from a given charge of water than if the condensate were permitted to escape from the generator.

It is to be understood that I do not desire to limit myself to the precise details of construction and arrangement above described, as'it is obvious that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the essential features of my invention, as defined in the following claims.

I claim l. In an acetylene gas generator, the combination with a carbid casing, having an imperforate central tubular column extending above said casing, with a gas outlet at thebottom thereof; of a water receptacle having a central tubular column and arranged to detachablyfit upon said carbid casing, with said columns in'loose telescopic relation; and means for detachably connecting said casing and receptacle; whereby the gas generated in said casing is directedin a film between said columns and subjected to the low temperature maintained bythe water in said receptacle.

2. In an acetylene gas generator, the combination with a carbid casing; of a water receptacle arranged to detachably lit upon said carbid casing; means for detachably connecting said casing and receptacle; and means arranged to compress carbid downwardlyand outwardly in said casing, including an annular bowl having a central outlet and a spring; the upper end of said spring being held by-'said water receptacle, and the latter having a water outlet overhanging said bowl.

3. In an acetylene gas generator, the combination with va carbid casing, having a floor inclined downwardly from the center to the circumference thereof, whereby water in said chamber gravitates downwardly and outwardly on said floor; of means arranged to compress carbid downwardly and outwardly on said floor, including an annular bowl hav-y ing a spring; and means arranged to introduce waterbetween said bowl and floor;

`whereby the carbid in said chamber is continually pressed into coperative relation with any water in said chamber.

4. In an acetylene gas generator, the combination with a carbid casing, having a floor which is lower at its outer portion than at its center; of means arranged to compress carbid downwardly and outwardly in said casing, including an annular bowl having a water outlet, and a spring pressing said bowl toward said floor; and means arranged to supply said bowl with water; whereby the carbid in said chamber is continually pressed into coperative relation with any water in said chamber.

5. In an acetylene gas generator, the combination with a carbid casinghaving a central ktubular column with a gas outlet at the bottom thereof; of a water receptacle having a central tubular column and detachably fitted upon said carbid casing, with said columns in axial alinement; means for detachably connecting said casing and receptacle; a removable cartridge in said casing, extending annularly around said central tubular column, including a folded web of textile fabric having transversely extending parallel lines of stitches forming separate car- .said casing.

6. In an acetylene gas generator, the combination with a carbid casing having a floor which is lower at its outer portion than at its center; a central tubular column in said Hoor having a gas outlet at the bottom thereof; said outlet being above the region to which water gravitates on said Hoor; a water receptacle detachably connected withl said carbid casing; a removable cartridge, in said casing, extending annularly around said column, including a web of porous fabric having separate carbid compartments, in a cirlses ' bid compartments in a circumferential series oumferential series in said easing; and maintained above the water level in said means compressing said cartridge in eoneencasing.

tric relation with said column includingan ln testimony whereof, I have hereunto annular bowl and a spring encircling said signed my name at Philadelphia, Pennsyl- 5 column; and means controlling the supply Vania, this tenth day of September7 1913.

of water to said Casin@ from said rece tacle; whereby the carbid ibn said casing is3 oom- EDVVN M' ROSENBLUTH' pressed downwardly and outwardly in co- Vitnesses: operative relation with any water in said E. Gr. MCCULLOUGH, 10 casing, and said gas outlet is continuously W. l-l. KILLE.

Gouies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

